In the wake of the U.S. elections, the onslaught of war in the Middle East, and the seemingly endless attacks on the family both here and abroad, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. And if we’re not careful, it’s then easy to adopt of posture of indifference and give up the fight.

Yet in the darkest hour, or what appears to be the darkest hour, it’s remarkable how God sends a reminder that all is not lost, that evil will not triumph, and that the family is still revered.

This was seen over the weekend as hundreds of thousands of people rallied in France to support marriage in the face of a pending redefinition of it. They were also standing up for keeping the best environment for a child the number one priority for adoption, rather than change adoption laws to place children with same-sex couples for purely political reasons.

Under the banner “March for Everyone,” these marriage defenders held signs reading “One child = one father + one mother.” Their spokesperson repeatedly told reporters, “A child needs a father and a mother, he needs the paternal and the maternal side and with this pending [same-sex “marriage”] bill, that might not be possible anymore.”

Cardinal Andre Trois, the head of the French Council of Catholic Bishops, vehemently opposes the new legislation, calling this corruption of marriage “the ultimate deceit.” And the people marching with him, and in support of him, shared his sentiment precisely.

It was interesting that the usual, tired arguments for the redefinition of marriage were presented by protesters trying to silence the hundreds of thousands of marriage supporters.
The words of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, described as a women’s rights minister and government spokesperson, were especially telling as she defended “the right of homosexuals to both marry and adopt” because “it represents progress for everyone.”

What kind of progress does it represent? Moving from homes where a child has a father and a mother to homes where children have two fathers or two mothers isn’t progress. Many men make good dads, but no man can ever be a mom. Many women make good moms, but no woman can ever be a dad. Marriage promotes the truth that children need a mom and a dad and encourages the establishment of homes with both. So what kind of progress was Belkacem referencing?

In addition, the fact that mothers and fathers together, who are waiting to adopt children, will find their chances lessened if same-sex couples achieve their demands doesn’t seem much like progress either. At best, it appeases a handful of activists who demand that their desire to have a child is greater than what’s actually best for the child. Yet adoption exists for the ultimate benefit of children, not the desires of adults.

In truth, it appears that Belkacem’s “progress” is simply another example of the “nod, nod, wink, wink,” one leftist gives another when they see aspects of their redefinition of family being more widely imposed.

Yet the hundreds of thousands of French citizens who rallied for marriage drowned out Belkacem’s words. She spoke to her handfuls, but the people spoke to their truckloads.
It is heartening to see citizens do something other than roll over when a government spokesperson gives a speech about “progress.”

Defenders of family the world over—and especially those who feel beaten down at this moment—need to look to the fire in the eyes of these French citizens and know that, despite the very real challenges ahead, all is not lost, evil will not ultimately triumph, and reverence for the family has not disappeared, despite the best efforts of leftist elites to tell us otherwise. How dark the hour is may be up for debate, but it’s not as dark as the opponents of marriage hope you’ll believe.